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born c. 1588, died May 26, 1653, East Sutton, near Middlestone, Kent, England. | born c. 1588, died May 26, 1653, East Sutton, near Middlestone, Kent, England. | ||
The English political theorist stood for a royalist and patriarchal attitude. He supported [[Absolutism]] and the [[Divine Right]] of kings, in opposition to [[Thomas Hobbes]]. | The English political theorist stood for a royalist and patriarchal attitude. He supported [[Absolutism]] and the [[Divine Right]] of kings, in opposition to the supporters of the [[Commonwealth]] or to the proponents of contract theories like [[Thomas Hobbes]]. | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Robert Filmer was son to Sir Edward Filmer. His education took place at Trinity College, Cambridge, as well as at Lincoln's Inn. He devoted himself to the life of a scholar and pursued it in his country house in Kent. When [[Charles I]] became king, Filmer was knighted. His brother and his son were also at court. Although he never | Robert Filmer was son to Sir Edward Filmer. His education took place at Trinity College, Cambridge, as well as at Lincoln's Inn, London. He devoted himself to the life of a scholar and pursued it in his country house in Kent. When [[Charles I]] became king, Filmer was knighted. His brother and his son were also at court. Although he never played an active part in politics, he was temporarily imprisoned in Leeds Castle during Civil War in 1643 for his political writings. After the first Civil War and being free again, Filmer wrote several political treatises maintaining conservatism. While his works were not published in time of writing and were only circulated in manuscript, they got the more popular after the [[Restoration]] and were finally published posthumously during the [[Exclusion Crisis]] in 1679 and the following year. | ||
== Works == | == Works == | ||
In 1641, during Civil War, Filmer wrote ''Patriarcha or the Natural Power of Kings'' in which he formulated | In 1641, during Civil War, Filmer wrote ''Patriarcha or the Natural Power of Kings'' in which he formulated absolutist ideas. Due to the political circumstances, it could not be published. Before 1649, he composed ''The Anarchy of Limited or Mixed Monarchy'' in which he promoted a kind of ‘pure’ monarchy, very similar to that in France at that time. The ''Free-holders' Grand Inquest'' was authored during the Commonwealth. There he opted for the restoration of the old government, hence, the king. He also wrote an analysis of Aristotle's ''Politics'' where he again argued for the ‘pure’ form of government. With ''Observations Concerning the Original of Governments'' he formulated an absolutist theory in 1652, which was very much the contrary of the contract theories approach by [[Thomas Hobbes]]. Shortly before his death in 1653, he doubted the existence of witchcraft in his two treatises ''An Advertisement to the Jurymen of England Touching Witches'' and ''The Difference between a Hebrew and an English Witch''. | ||
== Political theory == | == Political theory == | ||
Revision as of 15:42, 4 June 2009
born c. 1588, died May 26, 1653, East Sutton, near Middlestone, Kent, England.
The English political theorist stood for a royalist and patriarchal attitude. He supported Absolutism and the Divine Right of kings, in opposition to the supporters of the Commonwealth or to the proponents of contract theories like Thomas Hobbes.
Biography
Robert Filmer was son to Sir Edward Filmer. His education took place at Trinity College, Cambridge, as well as at Lincoln's Inn, London. He devoted himself to the life of a scholar and pursued it in his country house in Kent. When Charles I became king, Filmer was knighted. His brother and his son were also at court. Although he never played an active part in politics, he was temporarily imprisoned in Leeds Castle during Civil War in 1643 for his political writings. After the first Civil War and being free again, Filmer wrote several political treatises maintaining conservatism. While his works were not published in time of writing and were only circulated in manuscript, they got the more popular after the Restoration and were finally published posthumously during the Exclusion Crisis in 1679 and the following year.
Works
In 1641, during Civil War, Filmer wrote Patriarcha or the Natural Power of Kings in which he formulated absolutist ideas. Due to the political circumstances, it could not be published. Before 1649, he composed The Anarchy of Limited or Mixed Monarchy in which he promoted a kind of ‘pure’ monarchy, very similar to that in France at that time. The Free-holders' Grand Inquest was authored during the Commonwealth. There he opted for the restoration of the old government, hence, the king. He also wrote an analysis of Aristotle's Politics where he again argued for the ‘pure’ form of government. With Observations Concerning the Original of Governments he formulated an absolutist theory in 1652, which was very much the contrary of the contract theories approach by Thomas Hobbes. Shortly before his death in 1653, he doubted the existence of witchcraft in his two treatises An Advertisement to the Jurymen of England Touching Witches and The Difference between a Hebrew and an English Witch.
Political theory
Being a royalist, Filmer defended the concept of Divine Right. He did that by exposing the patriarchal theory of the origin of government and thereby argued for Absolutism. It was Filmer's conviction that leadership had always existed and that God gave it to the first people on earth. This he regarded as a consequence of human sinful behaviour, an opinion already formulated by Thomas Aquinas in the Middle Ages. God would give leadership to the first man on earth, in that case Adam and then further on to other leaders meaning that English kings were heirs to Adam. Thus, power is given only to the king being the father of the nation. In Filmer's opinion, parliament had no competence in its own right but was merely some kind of royal council.
Patriarchal theory went well together with the demand of the Anglican Church for passive obedience. According to that demand, a king had to be followed obediently, whether he became king rightfully or not. Applied to the political situation in 1688 it meant that as long as James II was king, he was to be acknowledged as the rightful king. Later, when William III became king this obedience had to be given similarly.
Filmer's political treatises were in high value among the Tories and became the foundation for their political theory of government.
Sources
Maurer, Michael: Kleine Geschichte Englands. Reclam: Stuttgart 2007.
"Filmer, Sir Robert." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 4 June 2009 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9034270>.
"Sir Robert Filmer." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Gale. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 4 June 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
"Sir Robert Filmer." The Columbia Encyclopedia. Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 4 June 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.
Further Reading
Sabine, George Holland: A History of Political Theory. 3rd ed., reprint. London: Harrap 1964.
Locke, John: Two Treatises of Government. With a supplement: Patriarcha by Robert Filmer. Ed. by John Ira Cook. New York: Hafner 1947. (The Hafner library of classics 2)